The Evolution of My Blog: Changes Based on the Last Few Years
A couple of years ago, I had this grand idea of abandoning my old blogs about autism and southern living and start a new venture. I wanted to talk about cupcakes, stuff like frosting, batter, mixers, cookbooks, recipes, pastry tips, flavors. Basically, if it related to cupcakes, I was going to blog about it. 24/7.
Then reality hit. I wasn’t living in a place where I could do large-scale baking from my home, so I had to rent a commercial kitchen. Ka-ching. It was also hard to sell cupcakes for a fair price that allowed me to make a profit on my time and effort in a small town. This meant that to experiment, learn and grow my business, I was doing an awful lot of baking for a limited number of friends and family. That meant I had to cut back on the number of cupcakes because we could only eat so many.
Sad face. Yet, I kept going. In between trying to find cupcake things to talk about that weren’t replicas of another cupcake blog (as there are many really good ones already out there), I found myself sharing about our long-awaited move from South Carolina back to California. I went on and on (and on) about the difficulty of selling our house, and then when I arrived out here, I waxed about my layoff, living in an RV, buying a new home (after some large budget changes as I wasn’t working f/t yet) and re-inventing myself.
No cupcakes in there. I couldn’t bake them appropriately in an RV, and quite frankly, job-hunting and maintaining sanity while helping my kids be upbeat about our grand return to California-turned-predicament during those four very long months took all I had.
Along the way, I started talking about some other of my interests: fitness, working out, living as naturally as possible (aim for what you can do – perfection isn’t reality), events and outings here in Southern California, and of course, social media.
I’ve been asked – why do you blog about it all? Why not more focus on less topics?
What kind of blogger are you?
I’m the kind of blogger who blogs about it all, well, because I can. I’ve got a lot of interests and experiences and I’m blessed to have been inspired to create my own space where I can share it for those interested. I have a lot of readers from all over – some visit to read about my baking, others visit to read about how there is life after a layoff, and all have told me that they’ve found something new to read, other than what they came for.
That’s all I need to hear!
Some of my social media tips/articles get major pageviews; other times, it’s a review of an event. I never know which piece will interest the most or get the most traffic, but that’s okay. I could fine-tune my blog in one direction, or never mention my personal interests or feelings, but then I’m blogging for numbers and not for the enjoyment of blogging.
For me, I want to see if I can find the perfect mix: readers, enough of them, who enjoy the real ‘me’ and not the SEO-planting writer who just wants high numbers in my Google Analytics. (Yes, I want traffic, and yes, higher numbers help me when it comes down to the money of blogging, but not at the expense of being myself.)
So if you see a snarky comment sneak in or an opinion or an article about autism or something totally off the wall, like how much I am loving these fall leaves that are in my yard and the sound they make as they rustle past my office balcony all day? It’s just me enjoying being a blogger in between talking about my blog focus.
And that’s the best evolution of a blog I can envision. As life changes, so does our purpose, our focus. And I always want my blog to reflect real life.
I love the things that you share on your blog even though they aren’t always related to cupcakes. I think people enjoy reading about a wide variety of topics as long as it fits your niche/theme. I think this blog displays and shows bigger brands why you need a blog/social media/ and the right ingredients to successfully promote your business online.
Thanks, Christy! I appreciate the encouragement and compliments!! I go back and forth between remembering that we have to give people what they want and that this is a blog/business where writing is creative…fine line, but I really hope to work it right! Have a good weekend!
Love it!! And there’s nothing wrong with some variety, in my opinion!! 🙂
Thanks!! I’m finding it is much less stressful writing about what I want instead of writing for the numbers. I think blogging should still be about fun. 🙂
I’ve found that I visit the most blogs that have a wide variety of topics–I’d rather read about a whole life than a specific topic. Sure sometimes I need to know a particular item or interest I’m trying to fulfill, but for my everyday perusing–tell me about everything.
FYI, you’re on my everyday reading list too! I love to know what you’re up to.
Thanks, Ann! I too like the blogs that cover different stuff. I love to learn and if I stick to just what I know I’m interested in, I’m definitely missing out on some cool people out there! Have a great Monday!
Girl, get your blog on. This is YOUR space. We’re your guests. Talk about whatever you want. 🙂
Thank you for the encouragement! I read so much negativity about bloggers lately..and not just by Martha. (Martha who? lol) I read how we’re not journalists, how we really shouldn’t be taken seriously, etc..and I don’t get it, truly. I didn’t know we needed to be journalists, and well, some of us really did go to school and learn about writing..but I digress. I just want to have a good blog that readers like and fills a need somewhere on the internets. I think I’ll keep it up! 🙂
Girl, get your blog on. This is YOUR place, YOUR house. Talk about whatever you want. 🙂
I too have a mix of food, kids, special needs, social media, reviews, family outings, personal stories… My blog is exactly that, mine. I want a mix of people reading what I have to say and I know that I can’t please everyone all the time but still I write whatever is on my mind. Some come back every day, some never return. I also like traffic and the perks I get that help pay for my blog fees and my time but if that was all I was blogging for what would the point really be? It wouldn’t be fun anymore and it certainly wouldn’t be my outlet as it is now.
Keep doing what you are doing! I personally always enjoy whatever you write!
Thank you!! I’m feeling more and more comfortable with throwing concerns about traffic out the window and just enjoying it — and honestly, I’ve seen no decrease in offers and opportunities! So encouraging!!
I just found your blog and have started reading it and I am really enjoy it. I myself struggled with coming up with a niche for my blog because I have a ton of interests and I want to share them all. Ultimately though, I want to own a cupcakery and decided to take a baking route. That doesn’t mean that other posts won’t eventually sneak in, but who cares…that is the freedom of blogging. 🙂
Keep up the good work. Great writing too.
Hi, Sarah — so glad you found me! And thank you! I love writing and sharing what’s going on and am glad you enjoy reading it 🙂
I want to own a cupcakery too! I am leaning towards a cupcake truck right now, but we’ll see. I currently am able to bake from my home (with only a few limitations) and that’s working out for now.
I hope you keep visiting!
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